Bhubaneswar, April 2: The world-famous peace pagoda at Dhauli, which is visited by 10,000 to 15,000 tourists a day, stands by the Daya river but there is not a drop of water to drink for visitors.

The drinking water tap on the hilltop has run dry. Local residents say it has been defunct since 1999. Ironically, the road leading to Dhauli has two tollgates collecting fees for the development of the Buddhist shrine, which also has an Asokan edict.

Rajesh Singla, a chartered accountant from New Delhi, who visited Dhauli today and was on a short trip to the state, was disappointed to find basic civic amenities lacking at the world famous site.

“The summer is terrible here. Many budget tourists from neighbouring states such as Bengal and other regions come to Dhauli peace pagoda as it was built in the memory of the great Kalinga war, but there is no drinking water here. I have visited many Buddhist shrines in Tibet and in the Northeast. The local authorities have maintained them well. It’s time for the Odisha government to take action,” Singla said.

Neha Rekhi, a homemaker from New Delhi, said there should be counters where tourists could get information brochures on Dhauli. “I looked for information everywhere and finally found something written on a wall near the prayer hall. The tourism department should look into the issue,” Rekhi said.

Nimai Khatua, a businessman and secretary of Sri Sri Dhabaleswar Byabasai Sangha, said there should be proper co-ordination between the state administration and the Kalinga Nippon Sangha, as the latter had built the monument in 1972. “Dhauli became a tourist destination after that initiative,” Khatua said.

Traders, who have their businesses nearby, have built a pipeline to the pagoda from the Dhabaleswar temple. The pipeline has been connected to a water tank near the parking lot in front of Dhauli. “Drinking water is available at the Shiv temple behind the shrine, but the pipeline that connects the water kiosk near the peace pagoda is defunct. It should be repaired,” said Sushanta Kumar Bahira, a trader.

Bhubaneswar tourist officer Sasanka Rath blamed the Kalinga Nippon Sangha for the problem. “The pagoda is under the control of the Kalinga Nippon Sangha. As the sangha representative does not stay here all the time, communication has become a problem. However, we will try to resolve the water issue. We have already taken steps to illuminate the structure.”

“The state government is collecting lots of money in the form of development fees from the two toll gates. They should take up the development of the pagoda in true spirit,” said Bahira.

District collector, Khurda, and chairman, Dhauli Development Committee, Roopa Mishra told The Telegraph: “We are going to take steps immediately. Tourism and other officials concerned will visit the site to devise a plan and ensure that drinking water facilities are available near the peace pagoda.”

The representative of guru Kazou Yoda, a Kalinga Nippon Sangha operative, Harinder Singh, however, said the spiritual leader was also in charge of several other Buddhist monuments developed with Japanese collaboration in the country, and so he was always on the move. “We have no problem if the tourism department takes up work to provide drinking water near the pagoda as it will be for thirsty tourists,” he said.

“I had submitted an estimate to the tourism department last October for the maintenance of old structures on the pagoda premises, but there was no response. We are ready to co-operate with the authorities, as the pagoda is a religious institution. The illumination programme is a welcome step by the Dhauli Development Committee. They have decided to foot the monthly electricity bill in future,” he said.